86 F150 inline 6 manual 4spd. suddenly happened that the "channel" that the shift lever moves through disappeared. (on a 3spd it's an H) the gear positions are there, I can put it in 2nd 3rd 4th and reverse and it drives ok. reverse is way over to the right and I can't find 1st. Shift lever goes directly into top of tranny. Ought to be a simple fix once I get to the linkage. Will I need to drop the tranny or should it be accessable through the top? Any help on what might be the problem and how to get at it would be appreceiated.

Thanks!

 

If you pull up the carpet and take the cover in the floor off, you will be able to see the top of the tranny.


Jared